The Irish standard., 1887-07-23

An lrishman Who Captivated the
Musical World With His
Compositions.
| BORN At DUBLIN, MAY Is, 1908,
Balfe, on the Maternal Side, Seems
to Have Come from a Race
Of Musicians
CIV. f. Wakeman in Dublin Evening Telegraph.) J
It was not without sufficient reason
that centuries ago heraldry conceded
to ireland the harp as her national en-
blem. Our country has, indeed, for
ages been justly considered the Land
of Song" We learn from O'Halloran
that in the olden time in every home
Was one or two harps free to all tra~
yelers, who were the more caressed the
more they excelled in music. Even
Giraldus Ganbrensis, who hated, or
pretended to hate. almost everything
Irish, was enthusiastic in praise Of the
native music of Erin, as he heard it
performed. some seven hundred years
ago. Al that the invaders could do to
suppress our bards was done, but done
in vain. 1t was the same in Wales.
After the battle Of the Boyne and the
REIGN OF TERROR AND CoNFIscATIoN
which ensued, our professional bards or
harpers became gradually fewer and
more few, so that about the middle Of
the last century the minstrel calling,
throughout the length and breadth OF
the land, was all but extinct.
Irish music, however, was not Just
then to die. In the year 1892 a great
meeting was held in Belfast, the object
of which was TO take steps to ensure, if
possible, its prolonged existence. At
that gathering some represent atlyes Of
the old race of wandering harpers as
sisted. They numbered but two Or
'hree. No more, it would seem, could
DG fUunG IN J1b Q1SLfIct--
Their tuneful brethren all were dead;
And they neglected and oppressed,
Wished to be with them and at rest
The meeting, however. seems to have
been eminently successful. and the ef-
fort then made by the lovers OF Irish
ninstreIsy ''to preserve to their country
1,r rr,~r LOFT tn
out of the wreck of all her liberties and
hopes" bears fruit TO the present day.
"But for the zeal and Intelligent re-
search of Mr.. BuDting," wrote Moore,
"at that crisis. the greater part Of CUR
musical treasures would probably be
lost to the world, It was in the year
1896 that this gentleman
PUBLISHED HIS FIRST VOLUME,
and the national spirit and hope then
awakened in Ireland by the rapid
spread Of the democratic principle
throughout Europe could not but insure
a most cordial reception foy such a
work, fattering as it was to the fond
dreams of Erin's early days. and con-
tanning in itself, indeed, remarkable
testimony of the truth of her claims to
an early date of civiization.''
1t was, no doubt, owing to the exer-
tions OF Bunting and q few kindred
spirits that the 'cold chain OF silence
by which the national music Of Erin
had so long been fettered was ulti
mate]y broken. Foreigners appear to
have been fascinated by the wild
sweetness" and originality Of our ma
tive melodies: and for q number Of
wears not a few OF those most gifted
birds Of passage, members of the Italian
Opera, when visiting Dublin, would
make pilgrimage tc As Upper Baggot
| street, long the residence Of Bunting,
for the purpose Of interviewing the ven
! erable maestro
Petrie used to tell how upon part1-
! cular occasion a great prima donna.
! whose name at present fail to remem
Der, called upon Bunting, in order to
have little conversation with one Sc
esteemed in home and foreign musical
circles. The lady, as might be expect
ed, was highly comp]imented, and con-
gratulaled the then howed master on
his comparatively hale appearance, etc.
The reply was, each, madame, I am
an old dog, an cd dng,' which reply
set the signora for a moment musing
"Ah, yes," she rejoined. "then I am an
o]d-what you call it? All, yes think
I av de world am, so, an DID,"
The word was that which expresses a
female of the canine species.
The commencement Of the present
century may thus be considered to have
witnessed the turning of a new leaf in
| in the
MUSICAL ANNALS, OF THE COUNTRY.
The genius and fire had always been
with our people, and it required little
more than a breath to raise it. 1t
would be impossible in sketch like the
present to do more than touch upon the
Of ~ o1>